Effect of Women Led Self Help Group on Micro-Financing of Farms in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Anyiro  C.O ¹ (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria)
Okonkwo  K.N ² (Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwu, Imo State, Nigeria)
Udah  S.C ³ (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Abia State University, Umuahia Campus, PMB 7010, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.)

Received: 2015-12-24 Accepted : 2015-12-24 Published : 2013-12-01

Keywords: Women farmers, Self Help Group, Micro Financing, Farm Credit,

Abstract :

The study examined the effect of women led self help group on micro-financing of farms in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Purposive and multistage random sampling technique was employed for collecting data from one hundred and twenty (120) women farmers in women led self help group by using structured interview schedule. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and OLS regression analysis. The study revealed that the mean loan size accessed by the women farmers from self help group led micro financing of farm was N 99,325. The result of the study revealed that the mean (N99,325) volume of farm credit accessed from women self help group was greater than that (N60,033.33) obtained outside the women self help group led micro financing of farms. Also the result of the paired t-test for difference in net farm income of the women farmers before and after accessing micro loans from women self help groups showed that the women self help group impacted significantly on the mean annual farm income of its members. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that the volume of fund accessed from women self help group led micro financing of farms was influenced by education, marital status, years of borrowing, farm size and annual contribution of the respondents. The R2 and F-ratio values were 0.5294 and 15.47 respectively. It was however, recommended that the women should join high performing women led self help group that would give them opportunities of making reasonable savings in a year. This will encourage thriftiness in their individual farm businesses and reduce their dependence on loans from outside

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